& Pacific Basin December 2014

Your Farm Service Agency Online Monthly Newsletter Covering the Latest Topics

In this Issue: Microloan Cap Grows to Please review the FSA Microloan Program

Page 1: $50,000 Fact Sheet for program application, eligibility and related information. Microloan Cap Grows Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds to $50,000 farmers and ranchers that the borrowing Emergency Loans limit for microloans increased from Emergency Loans $35,000 to $50,000, effective November 7. Hawaii and Maui counties, along with the

Microloans offer borrowers simplified Territories of American Samoa and Guam, Interest Rates for were declared primary disaster areas due to December 2014 lending with less paperwork. recent tropical storms. Under this Page 2: The microloan change allows beginning, designation, producers with operations in small and mid-sized farmers to access an any location are eligible to apply for low A Profile on additional $15,000 in loans using a interest emergency loans. Excellence: simplified application process with up to Dedication During seven years to repay. Microloans are part of Emergency loans can help producers Disaster recover from production and physical losses the Department’s continued commitment to Page 3: small and midsized farming operations. due to natural disasters. Farm Service Agency (FSA) will consider each loan USDA Provides To complement the microloan program application on its own merits, taking into Greater Protection additional changes to FSA eligibility account the extent of losses, security for Fruit, Vegetable requirements will enhance beginning available and repayment ability. Producers and other Specialty Crop Growers farmers and ranchers’ access to land, a key can borrow up to 100 percent of actual barrier to entry level producers. Policies production or physical losses, to a maximum Page 4: related to farm experience have changed so amount of $500,000. that other types of skills may be considered Learn More About to meet the direct farming experience Hawaii and Maui producers have until May NAP and NAP required for farm ownership loan 4 and May 12, 2015, respectively, to apply. Buy-Up Producers in American Samoa and Guam eligibility. Operation or management of Loan Deficiency non-farm businesses, leadership positions have until May 11, 2015.

Payments for while serving in the military or advanced For more information about emergency Unshorn Lamb Pelts education in an agricultural field will now loans, please contact your local FSA office count towards the experience applicants FSA Signature Policy or visit www.fsa.usda.gov need to show when applying for farm Dates to Remember ownership loans. Interest Rates for December 2014 Since 2010, FSA has made a record amount Farm Operating Loans — Direct 2.625 % of farm loans — more than 165,000 loans totaling nearly $23 billion. More than 50 MicroLoans 2.625 % percent of USDA’s farm loans now go to Farm Ownership Loans — Direct 4.00 % For more information beginning farmers. In addition, FSA has on Farm Service increased its lending to minority and Farm Ownership Loans — Direct Agency programs, visit women producers by nearly 50 percent Down Payment, Beginning 1.50 % our website since 2010. Farmer or Rancher www.fsa.usda.gov/hi Emergency Loans 3.625 %

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Hawaii State & Pacific Basin Farm Service Agency Office A Profile in Excellence: 300 Ala Moana Blvd, Rm 5-108 Diane Ley Dedication During , HI 96850 State Executive Director Disaster Ph: (808) 541-2600 Steve Bazzell Fax: (855)356-9493 Farm Program Loan Chief If you are from County or Hawaii County Farm Service Agency Hilo Office the Puna District of Hawaii County you may already know Robert 154 Waianuenue Ave, Room 219 Lester Ueda Hilo, HI 96720 County Executive Director “Bobo” Ishikawa, Farm Service

Ph: (808)933-8381 x 1 Miki Miyasato Agency's (FSA) 2014 Employee of Ishikawa receiving the Fax: (855)356-9492 Farm Loan Manager the Year. If you do not know him, Employee of the Year award from State Honolulu County Farm Service Agency Office here is an introduction to a man Executive Director Ley 99-193 Aiea Heights Dr, Room 114 Jason Shitanishi committed to public service, as he Aiea, HI 96701 County Executive Director ably demonstrated following .

Ph: (808)483-8600 x 2 Melissa Rodriques Fax: (855)356-9490 Farm Loan Manager If you have ever been through a hurricane then perhaps you know the emotions, the resiliency and the strength it Kauai County Farm Service Agency Office takes to make it through the storm and to move forward 4334 Rice St, Suite 103 Robert Ishikawa in recovery. Robert and his family lost their entire Lihue, HI 96766 County Executive Director orchid business to Hurricane Iwa in 1982. So when Ph: (808)245-9014 x 2 Melissa Rodriques Fax: (855)356-9495 Farm Loan Manager Hurricane Iselle slammed into the Puna district of Hawaii County this summer, Robert knew what he Maui County Farm Service Agency Office needed to do. He quickly called the FSA Hawaii County 77 Hookele St, Suite 201 James Robello Office and asked, “How can I help?” And help Robert Kahului, HI 96732 County Executive Director did in the days, weeks, and months ahead. Ph: (808)871-5500 x 2 John Tamashiro Fax: (855)356-9494 Farm Loan Manager Robert got to work supporting the assessment of Guam-CNMI Farm Service Agency Office damages to Hawaii’s papaya industry, which was 770 East Sunset Blvd. Room 265 Thomas Camacho significantly impacted by Hurricane Iselle. Next, he Barrigada, GU 96913 County Executive Director identified FSA’s Tree Assistance Program (TAP) as a Ph: (671)472-7568 Fred San Nicolas II key resource that would quickly support papaya Fax: (855)356-9491 Farm Loan Assistant producers in clearing and replanting their fields. CNMI (670)234-0896 Manager American Samoa Farm Service Agency Office Robert mapped out a plan, and a few days later he was headed to the Puna district for meetings with papaya Pago Plaza Building, Room 213 Josie Malepeai Lealasola P. O. Box 3661 Agricultural Specialist producers and processors. He explained the benefits of Pago Pago, AS 96799 TAP and what the producers’ responsibilities would be Ph: (684)633-1031 x 2 Letisha Gaoā Fax: (684)633-7614 Farm Loan Technician once they signed up for the program. Then he took applications from 72 producers for 117 individual farm Office Hours: Monday—Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm locations. Over the subsequent weeks, Robert was frequently in the papaya fields or back in his office on Next County Committee Meeting Dates: Kauai talking to producers on the phone about the

Hawaii County - January 9 at 8:30 am details of their losses and processing applications as

Honolulu County - January 16 at 3:00 pm quickly as possible.

Kauai County - January 21 at 8:30 am Today, Robert continues supporting the papaya industry,

Maui County - January 15 at 9:00 am as well as other producers, by processing applications

Guam County - January 14 at 9:00 am for the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP). Meanwhile, he never lost his focus on meeting the needs CNMI County - January 14 at 9:00 am of Kauai County producers.

Contact the County Office to confirm meeting date and time, as Nominated by his peers for the FSA 2014 Employee of budget constraints may limit the County Committee’s ability to meet each month. A list of County Offices, contact numbers and the Year, Robert sincerely thanked everyone and said, “I addresses may be found at: was just doing my job and helping out our producers.” A http://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/hi_cof_staff.pdf very humble man, with the strength to make it through a hurricane.

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USDA Provides Greater Protection for and socially disadvantaged farmers affordably manage Fruit, Vegetable and Other Specialty risk, making farming a much more attractive business proposition.” Crop Growers

Free Basic Coverage Plans and Premium To help producers learn more about the Noninsured Discounts Available for New, Underserved and Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) and how it can Limited Income Farmers help them, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), in partnership with Michigan State University Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced and the University of Illinois, created an online resource. that greater protection is now available from the The web tool, available at www.fsa.usda.gov/nap, Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) allows producers to determine whether their crops are for crops that traditionally have been ineligible for eligible for coverage. It also gives them an opportunity federal crop insurance. The new options, created by the to explore a variety of options and levels to determine 2014 Farm Bill, provide greater coverage for losses the best protection level for their operation. when natural disasters affect specialty crops such as vegetables, fruits, mushrooms, floriculture, ornamental If the application deadline for an eligible crop has nursery, aquaculture, turf grass, ginseng, honey, syrup, already passed, producers will have until January 14, and energy crops. 2015, to choose expanded coverage through the NAP. To learn more, visit the Farm Service Agency (FSA) “These new protections will help ensure that farm website at www.fsa.usda.gov/nap or contact your local families growing crops for food, fiber or livestock FSA office at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/ consumption will be better able to withstand losses due FSA_File/hi_cof_staff.pdf. to natural disasters,” said Vilsack. “For years, commodity crop farmers have had the ability to The Farm Service Agency (FSA), which administers the purchase insurance to keep their crops protected, and it program, also wants to hear from producers and other only makes sense that fruit and vegetable, and other interested stakeholders who may have suggestions or specialty crop growers, should be able to purchase recommendations on the program. Written comments similar levels of protection. Ensuring these farmers can will be accepted until February 13, 2015 and can be submitted through www.regulations.gov. adequately protect themselves from factors beyond their control is also critical for consumers who enjoy These new provisions under NAP were made possible these products and for communities whose economies through the 2014 Farm Bill, which builds on historic depend on them.” economic gains in rural America over the past five

Previously, the program offered coverage at 55 percent years, while achieving meaningful reform and billions of the average market price for crop losses that exceed of dollars in savings for the taxpayer. Since enactment, 50 percent of expected production. Now producers can USDA has made significant progress to implement each choose higher levels of coverage, up to 65 percent of provision of this critical legislation, including providing their expected production at 100 percent of the average disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening market price. risk management tools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; establishing innovative public- The expanded protection will be especially helpful to private conservation partnerships; developing new beginning and traditionally underserved producers, as markets for rural-made products; and investing in well as farmers with limited resources, who will infrastructure, housing and community facilities to help receive fee waivers and premium reductions for improve quality of life in rural America. For more expanded coverage. More crops are now eligible for the information, visit www.usda.gov/farmbill. program, including expanded aquaculture production practices, and sweet and biomass sorghum. For the first time, a range of crops used to produce bioenergy will Hay Net Access for Producers be eligible as well. Got extra pasture or need pasture? Farm Service

“If America is to remain food secure and continue Agency’s Hay Net website is now available. Visit exporting food to the world, we need to do everything www.fsa.usda.gov/haynet for more informaon. we can to help new farmers get started and succeed in agriculture,” Vilsack said. “This program will help new USDAUSDA is an is equal an equal opportunity opportunity provider, provider, employer, employer, and and lender. lender 3

Learn More About NAP and  Spouses shall not sign on behalf of each other as an NAP Buy-Up authorized signatory for partnerships, joint ventures, corporations, or other similar entities

All Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Offices will For additional clarification on proper signatures contact host producer meetings in early 2015 to go over your local FSA office. details of the new provisions of Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) and NAP Buy-Up. Watch your email for notifications regarding dates, Dates to Remember locations and times. December 25- FSA Offices Closed 26, 2014 If you are interested in the NAP Buy-Up and want to January 1, be sure to have the full details before the January 14, 2015 FSA Offices Closed 2014 deadline, review the new web tool at www.fsa.usda.gov/nap and contact your FSA County January 14, NAP Buy-Up deadline Office for an appointment well in advance of the 2015 deadline. A list of offices can be found at http:// Deadline to apply for Livestock Forage www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/hi_cof_staff.pdf. January 30, 2015 Disaster Program (LFP) and Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) Loan Deficiency Payments for Unshorn Deadline for Hawaii County producers Lamb Pelts May 4, 2015 to apply for Emergency Loans due to Hurricane Iselle Eligible producers have until January 31, 2015, to Deadline for American Samoa & Guam apply for Loan Deficiency Payments (LDP) for producers to apply for Emergency unshorn pelts produced during the 2014 crop year. May 11, 2015 Loans due to flooding and Tropical Storm Halong Eligible producers must have beneficial interest in the Deadline for Maui County producers to pelts, owned the lamb for at least 30 calendar days May 12, 2015 apply for Emergency Loans due to im- before the date of slaughter and sell the unshorn lamb pacts of Hurricane Iselle for immediate slaughter. Producers must also comply with wetland conservation and highly erodible land conservation provisions on all lands they operate or have interest in.

To qualify for payment, pelts must have been produced by an eligible producer from live unshorn lambs of domestic origin in the United States.

FSA Signature Policy

Using the correct signature when doing business with Farm Service Agency (FSA) can save time and prevent a delay in program benefits. The following are FSA signature guidelines:

 Spouses may sign documents on behalf of each other for FSA and Commodity Credit Corporation programs in which either has an interest, unless written notification denying a spouse this authority has been provided to the county office Happy Holidays! USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users). USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. 4